Gold Seizures by DRI Nearly Doubled in a Year

Customs duty evasion of Rs 4,500 crore was detected, as per the latest report, out of which Rs 1,800 crore of duty was voluntarily paid by evaders.

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The quantity of the smuggled gold seized by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) nearly doubled in a year, the agency highlighted on Monday as it marked its 66th Foundation Day.

Citing data from the ‘Smuggling in India Report 2022-23’, Mohan Kumar Singh, Principal Director General, DRI, said, “Gold smuggling continues to be a major area of concern. We have conducted deep investigations and obtained site intelligence, which has risen for the challenge and made way for breaking the gold syndicates. Counting on these attempts, we have seized close to 1,450 kg of gold in 275 cases across the country. This is almost double the quantity seized in the last financial year,” he added. In the year 2020-21, 833 kg of gold was seized by the DRI.

He made the remarks on Monday at at the event held at the GIFT City Club in Gandhinagar. However, there was a drop in the number of drug seizures as compared to the previous year.

”If I speak in terms of numbers, a total of 522 smuggling cases were detected, involving the total contraband seizure of Rs 11,500 crore. These include seizures of 1,300 kg of heroin, 150 kg of cocaine, 250 kg of methamphetamine, and 25 metric tonnes of Ganja.” The infiltration of the supply chain and courier and postal cargo for drug smuggling emerged as a significant challenge for the DRI, he added.

The DRI recorded a seizure of 3,463 kg of heroin (including the 2,988 kg seized at Mundra port), and 26,946 mt of ganja in the financial year 2020-21.

Customs duty evasion of Rs 4,500 crore was detected, as per the latest report, out of which Rs 1,800 crore of duty was voluntarily paid by evaders.

For speedy completion of investigations, the DRI launched a drive and completed investigation in 944 cases and initiated action in 375 cases in 2022-23, stated the release.

Courtesy: www.indianexpress.com

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